Erin's Story
Erin Densham (along with Emma Moffatt) became the first Australian triathlete to compete at three Olympic Games as she took to the starting line at the Rio 2016
Looking to improve on her London 2012 bronze medal, Denham put herself in the game from the outset, exiting the water after the 1500m swim very much in the firing line – ensuring she was right in the front group for the brutal 40km bike course.
But another Olympic medal wasn’t meant to be for Densham, who was happy with her 12th place finish to wrap up her Olympic career.
Densham competed in swimming and cross country at state level when at school and decided to combine her strengths at 16 when she took up triathlon. She announced herself on the world triathlon scene when she won the U/23 World Championship in Switzerland.
Winning the Triathlon Australia Emerging Athlete of the Year in 2007, Densham went on to compete at her first Olympic Games in Beijing alongside Emma Snowsill and Emma Moffatt, where she finished 22nd on debut.
In 2009, Densham was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (racing heartbeat) and was forced to drop out of several major competitions and eventually have surgery. Making a remarkable recovery, Densham proved herself at the 2010 French Triathlon Club Championships with a series of consistent performances which saw the now 31-year-old was selected on her second Olympic Team.
